Information on Different Types of Bits for Horses

The bit is a crucial communication piece between horse and rider. It's used for turning the horse, flexing the horse's neck and speed control. The rider's style of riding and the horse's level of training determine the choice of bit used. While there are many variations, there are really only few types of bits.

  1. Snaffle Bits

    • Snaffle bits are the mildest and most widely used bits.

      Snaffle bits are generally the first type used when training a horse. Snaffle bits provide direct connection between the rider's hands and the horse's mouth by acting on the bars (the space between horses' incisors and molars), tongue and corners of the mouth. They are the mildest bits and are useful at all levels of a horse's training and competitions, in English or Western riding.

      Snaffle bits are generally identified by the type of ring. Loose-ring snaffle bits have rings on either side that can slide around holes that connect them to the mouthpiece. The reins and headstall are connected to the rings. Egg-butt snaffle bits are just like loose-ring bits except that the bit cannot slide through the rings. It is attached to the ring with a hinge. Some riders prefer egg-butt snaffle bits because horse's mouth can be pinched by the loose-ring snaffles. D-ring snaffles are variations of egg-butt bits. The rings are shaped like the letter D, and these bits provide even more distance from the horse's lips, further reducing the pinching risk.

      Beyond the shape of the rings, there can be other differences between varieties of snaffle bits. French link means there are three sections of the bit in the horse's mouth. This gives horses with low palates relief from the bit by softening the bend in the center of the mouth. Hollow-mouth bits are thick with foam or hollow centers, which makes them very light. Wider bits are also milder, making hollow-mouth bits good choices for green horses. Twisted wire snaffles have twisted bits that can be very harsh to the horse. Twisted bits are rarely used .

    Curb Bits

    • Curb bits use pressure to control the horse's movement.

      Curb bits work by applying pressure to the mouth, the tongue, the poll (top of the horse's head behind the ears), and the chin. The bridle headstall is attached to the top of the shank and the reins to the bottom, and a curb strap is placed under the chin, connecting to the bit on both sides. Milder curb bits are usually curved in the middle; the straighter the bit, the harsher it becomes. The length of the shanks also affects the severity of the bit; longer shanks place more pressure on the horse than shorter ones.

    Metal Matters

    • Several types of metal are used to make bits.

      Both snaffle and curb bits are made out of a variety of metals. Stainless steel doesn't rust and doesn't have a flavor. Most rings and shanks are made from stainless steel. Aluminum bits, although lightweight and inexpensive, should be avoided because the metal tastes bad and can dry out the mouth. Sweet iron is a dark metal that rusts, which horses tend to like because of the sweet flavor.
      Copper bits cause horses to salivate, which keeps the mouth soft.